I bumped into a friend last night who happens to be an Oscar voter (not to mention a shrewd Oscar campaigner), and during our conversation, my friend floated an interesting theory. This particular person (and you know who you are), who is not working on the film in any way, believes wholeheartedly that The Hangover will be one of the 10 eventual Best Picture nominees.
Sorry, should I have asked you all to sit down before you read that?
Anyway, I immediately was dubious of this idea. I mean, can a movie featuring a detestable lead character (not you, Bradley Cooper, just the guy you played), unnecessarily offensive dialogue (“Paging Dr. F—-t?”) and sloppy editing really make it into the Best Picture race? And if so, what would that say about whether it truly was the best idea for the Academy to open up the field?
Or, on the other hand, does my friend actually have a point here? Even Hangover haters have to admit the movie does boast an irresistible premise, a brilliant structure, and an amazing comedic performance by Zach Galifianakis, who could just be a stealth Best Supporting Actor contender if the movie’s campaign takes off. With several of the big-ticket “Oscar movies” destined to disappoint, perhaps a bona fide summer blockbuster will occupy a slot (or two) of the top 10. Should we all steel ourselves for a Star Trek vs. Hangover smackdown? Or could they both end up making the cut? Maybe people will watch the Oscars next year after all.
Follow me on Twitter (@davekarger) for updates all season long.
Photo credit: Frank Masi
Comments (1-30) of 165 Add your comment
Why not? Crash was a TOTAL piece of crap and that won the whole thing!
AGREED! Man, i hated that movie.
I’m still shocked that it beat out Brokeback Mountain.
Brokeback was a mediocre soaper, with the only gimmick of having two male leads. Take away that and you have two people fall in love, marry other people, still have the ocassional “sex with the ex” thing. I wasn’t offended, but I certainly wasn’t entertained.
“Hard Out Here For a Pimp” won for Hustle and Flow, not Crash. Crash’s song “In the Deep” was infinitely better.
I didn’t see The Hangover, but I’m so relieved to find out that other people hated Crash. It just felt so contrived to me, I felt manipulated. (Those who loved it, please don’t shoot back mean posts to me!) I felt like Elaine when everyone loved The English Patient and she hated it. First time since 1943 for 10 films, this should be, well…..interesting.
Crash was a GOOD movie and better than anything else nominated that year for Best picture!
It’s true Crash was a good movie, but the best movie that year was Syriana. Well thats if you understood what was going on because all my friends who saw it didnt get it.
most overrated piece of crap from 2005.
Syriana was definitely better than Crash. Crash played like a Robert Altman film-for-dummies.
Heyyyy, that’s what I was gonna say! Yeah, if “Crash” and it’s accompanying best song “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp” can win then any piece of garbage can. At least if the completely overrated “Hangover” was nominated it would make for a more interesting show than last year’s snooze-fest. Hugh Jackman is the worst host ever.
Its hard out here for a pimp was actually from the Movie Hustle and Flow. Both films had terrance howard, so I can see why you’d be confused.
Hugh Jackman is the shit. He was also delightfully charming as the Oscar host. It’s not his fault no one has seen or cares about the movies that get nominated.
Well, it’s not like there is any good movies out anymore.
Is this going to be the worst Oscar year ever?
or will it be the best? teehee. depends on your perspective.
Nothing could be worse than The Hangover for Best Picture.
Thank you for pointing out all the things I hated about that movie (especially lines like “paging Dr…”
jason, why must you take life so seriously? clearly you are an agry liberal
What does politics have to do with this?
I am a liberal and I thought that the line was awesome. I loved the movie. Say what you will but I was gut busting the whole time in that movie with my friends. (Imagine this, 7 female 20-30 aged teachers during summer vacation with a few drinks in before hand. A fond memory of my life.)
I thought the line they used in ads was funnier “paging Dr. D___bag!”
I say it had NECESSARY offending dialogue!
This is definitely a hard decision to make. On the one hand, The Hangover isn’t a film that people would think is Best Picture worthy no matter how enjoyable it was. However, for years the academy has for the most part shunned comedy films from most of the major categories for years. Personally, I always hated it when people compare very artsy dramatic films saying they’re a lot better than a really funny comedy film. I don’t think they can really be compared to one another. With comedy you can get away with a lot more stuff than a drama film. I would love the idea of Zach Galifianakis nominated for best supporting actor. Why not? I think we should allow more comedies to have a shot at the Academy awards. Besides most of the Oscar type movies really haven’t been good anyway.
I agree. The reason i like that they are opening up the category to 10 films is that it can allow for a lot more diversity. It’s so difficult to compare comedies to dramas/art house films/typical oscar fare but that doesn’t mean they aren’t as good. There are a lot of brilliant comedies/action films/sci-fi/fantasies out there they could be deserving but never get the recognition. I haven’t seen the hangover, but just because it’s a raunchy comedy doesn’t mean it’s not one of the ten best movies this year.
actually, they’re opening up the field to 10 films so that films that people have seen get nominated. its a ratings boost after The Dark Knight and Iron Man didn’t get nominated.
True comedy is underrated and its a shame. And while The Hangover was no doubt funny, it is not Best Picture material by any means. We all laugh at Dumb and Dumber but is it well crafted? Hardly. The Hangover is the same way. Clever concept and some good laughs but poor editing and pointless at times. Dont nominate something just because it is popular. I would have loved to see a film like the 40 Year Old Virgin be nominated. It was raunchy like the Hangover but the script was fantastic, Steve Carrell was phenomenal and it had real heart. This years 500 Days Of Summer is also a unique comedy that has all the aspects Oscar loves-editing, acting, art direction. If any comedy gets a nod this year I hope thats it.
no no no no no no no please please no
Hells no!
No way!
Not that I saw the movie. I admit it. But the list even though it is now 10 movies. It should have quality movies. Not just movies that were popular but isn’t Oscar quality.
You haven’t even seen it! How could you possibly have an opinion on it topic?!
The Oscars are NOT the Mtv Movie Awards! There’s no way this movie is gonna be a contender!
Offensive dialogue? The movie was rated R what did you expect, a civilized discourse with lines like “yes, ma’am?” jesus…
Ugh. The most overrrated movie of the year as a Best Picture contender? You have GOT to be kidding me. Absolute nonsense. If it does make the top 10, the Academy will immediately lose all credibility with me. Now Star Trek on the other hand…that I can get behind.
I love how people always come out of the woodwork ripping a popular movie after the fact. You rarely heard people have anything except glowing things to say about the movie, but once it became hugely popular all of a sudden so many people try acting like they hated it all along. If everyone who claims to hate it now hated it then it wouldn’t have made half the money it made because the word of mouth would have tanked the film.
Right Mark. That’s exactly what happened. You obviously know me so well to make those assertions. I had high expectations for the movie and found myself barely chuckling. You, sir, are an idiot. Why am I not entitled to not like this movie? Just because something is popular, that makes it good? That makes it Oscar-worthy? I guess Transformers 2 should win Best Picture this year. Newsflash Mark: I’m not the only one who didn’t care for the flick. Many people I’ve talked to felt the same way. A-hole.
Are you SERIOUS with this article!!!???? Tha was THE worst comedy I have seen in a long time. I think the academy is SO wrong with opening up the Best Picture nods…..If your movie isn’t great enough to be one of the 5 nominated, there is a reason why. It wasn’t great enough. The hangover was a joke of a movie, bad acting, bad directing, unoriginal lines, and oh throw a baby in for laughs….GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!! And Zack Galifianakis as best supporting actor???? Just shoot me now. Because if his no emotion, not funny,is always the same in every picture, PISS POOR acting gets nominated, then you might as well right off the academy. And all the reputation they have built up for 100 years. I agree they don’t always make the right nominations or miss the mark, but The Hangover would wreck ANY, ANY crediblity they still have……….Grow up Dave Krager, your friend is an idoit, and you are to for drinking his Kool-Aid
You have to AT LEAST admit that you’re not in the majority here. I consider myself a completely average person who loves all sorts of movies. Very rarely is there a movie that I can say I don’t like. However, The Hangover is hands down one of the funniest movies in recent history. I personally haven’t met anyone who hasn’t liked it – and I know a decent amount of people who saw it – but I think maybe you’re over reacting just a bit. I mean – no need to name call! It is somewhat ignorant to call someone an idiot based on their opinion I think. For example, I couldn’t think you’re more wrong, but I don’t think you’re an idiot! I do have to say that this movie would win a people’s choice award HANDS DOWN, but I don’t know that it fits into the mold that the Oscars have come to represent and for that reason probably will not/should not receive a nod.
I am hoping that there are 10 movies better this year but if there isnt, then I dont see what the problem is. The Hangover was a good movie- funny… great? eh not imo but i also thought Slumdog was nowhere near the masterpiece everyone said it was and that won everything… ditto to Crash, Gladiator etc…
There’s no way The Hangover or Star Trek will be nominated. Here’s the 10 I think will be in the race for Best Picture: (in no particular order)
Up
Inglourious Basterds
Moon
The Lovely Bones
Avatar
Nine
Where the Wild Things Are
The Road
Up In the Air
A Serious Man
i love how like half your movies haven’t even come out yet. maybe we should wait until theyre out until we anoint them oscar nominees.. just look at last year.. everbody was calling australia an oscar nominee but it was rubbish. your so called list is highly premature.
agreed. love baz and nicole but australia was awful. so painfully long, my friends and i still joke that it was actually shot in real time and is probably still playing.
I can see Avatar sweeping the technical awards, but best picture? That’s an incredibly far stretch unless Cameron has something special hidden under his sleaves. Many of my friends, who have no idea who James Cameron is, were immediately turned off by the Avatar trailer, can’t say I blame them.
If Avatar gets 4 or 5 technical nods, that should be enough for it to get a Best Picture nom.
Michael, based on your theory, Michael Cimino’s catastrophic Heaven’s Gate should have been nominated for best picture because it looked great, had terrific sets, costumes were beautiful period recreations and the musical score is still memorable…Too bad the pic was stillborn with a terrible script (from a good idea), long, imcomprehensible scenes that went nowhere, terrible editing, etc. etc. I could go on. A pic can get all the technique right and still be an abomination. And don’t get me started on Dark Knight.
As long as Avatar looks great (and I’m certain it will), it will get the 3-star-and-above reviews it needs to get a Pic Best nomination. Different films need different things to reach that Best Pic nomination. Some merely need good reviews and they get nominated (usually blockbusters). Some need great reviews (usually a smaller film). Some need a lot of buzz. Some need some critics’ awards. What I’m trying to say is that you can’t use the same standards to evaluate a film’s chances. Baco Noir, you really missed my point. If Avatar is a critical bomb, it probably won’t end up with 4 or 5 technical nominations and therefore wouldn’t show up as a Best Pic nomination. Come on, we’re all adult and show be able to read “between the lines” when responding to other people’s posts.
i think precious will also be on this list. haven’t seen it but i think it is that type of movie.
…and Hurt Locker instead of Moon. The others that nobody has seen yet from the list up a bit? I think that was a pretty good guess based on ‘likely’ success. It could be completely wrong though (based on trailer and Cameron’s ‘abilities’ as a writer, I think Avatar doesn’t make it either).
Before the end of summer, I would have said Star Trek stood a chance. However, Inglorious Basterds stole its momentum in August. Totally disagree with Where the Wild Things Are though…critics are complaining about Spike Jonez directing.
That would be great, only problem is that most of these movies are not out yet..and the Avatar trailer..sucked!
Yeah cuz if the trailer sucks then the movie must suck right? really? you’re gonna use that logic to argue a point.
I like this list a lot, but I doubt “A Serious Man” and “The Road” getting Best Picture bids. “A Serious Man” seems too quaint, and doesn’t have any great buzz from reviews, while “The Road” is far too plagued with its track record so far. It also looks awful. So disappointing.
Also, the “Avatar” trailer was god-awful. The footage released on Avatar Day was FAR from awful. This film is meant to be seen in IMAX 3D. Seriously. We’ll see if its good enough for Best Picture, but I have faith in Cameron. We’ll have to wait and see.
WHAT ABOUT PUBLIC ENEMIES!?
that should totally be a nominee!!
Your movie viewing rights are officially stripped. Step away from the theater.
I agree – Public Enemies for sure. Everything else I’ve seen this year is crap.
A great example for what I wrote about earlier. This looked like a sure thing before it was released. However, a less-than expected-critical response (good reviews instead of great ones), a disappointing box office gross (this had to gross at least $100 and fell short by $3 mil, therefore “disqualifying” for the $100+-Oscar-type-grosser which will now go to Inglourious Basterds), and enough criticism for Michael Mann’s direction and Johnny Depp’s performance (both considered shoo-in nominees before the release) makes Public Enemies have no choice at a Best Pic nominee.
I would add (500) Days of Summer on that list. Was the best film I’ve seen this year so far.
Moon was bad a**
“dubious” is an adjective, you cannot be “dubious of” something
You’re right, Aunt Polly. Something is dubious, you can only be skeptical.
It’s either this or we get a huge host of small indie fare taking up the extra spots. While the indie fare would probably deserve it more, the thing is that many of those movies might not have the same gusto that movies like The Hangover and Star Trek have. That said, it would take some real campaigning and probably a bit of fate getting involved for a movie like The Hangover to get into the Big 10. If it were a different comedy, maybe a classier, more unanimously beloved film rather than just a sleeper hit with an overall supportive rating, I’d say it might have higher chances.
Um…no. The Hangover was funny, but not Best Picture worthy. The blockbusters that would be way more worthy are “Up” and “Star Trek”.
If it wasn’t for Zach Galifianakis, that movie would have been a formulaic piece of boring. He was 85% of the laughs and he deserves awards, not the movie.
The Hangover was good, but if we’re going for an out-of-left-field best movie nod, why not Zombieland? It’s definitely a harder sell, since its incredibly gory and a genre mash-up between comedy and horror, two genres Oscar voters loathe. On the other hand, it is fiendishly smart, especially with the celebrity cameo, and as wacky and zany as the film might be, there are still moments of drama (Especially when Woody Harrelson tells the real story of why he’s fighting). I think if The Hangover could be a contender, why doesn’t Zombieland give it a shot?
I totally agree. I loved The Hangover personally, but do not see it as an Oscar-quality comedy. Zombieland, however, is cleverly written, well-executed, and has a few moments of true philosophic poignancy. I could certainly get behind that.
Because Zombieland sucked. Yet another film obsesses with the idea of being hip and forgets to tell an interesting story.
The Hangover was easily the funniest movie I’ve seen this year and one of the funniest I’ve seen in a long time. If you didn’t find it funny or if you found it UN-necessarily offensive, you are either a prude, boring, or both. Either way, stay inside and watch television. Your opinion can’t mean that much if you didn’t find this movie funny.
Yeah, that’s the spirit. If you don’t agree with me you’re stupid and should die. Sounds like we’re in the Senate.
get over yourself
I didn’t think it was as funny as everyone said. It got stale after awhile and is certainly in no way deserving of being listed as one of the best of the year.
That being said, if Slumdog Millionaire and Crash can win, then who knows.
I doubt that The Hangover will benefit from the increase to 10. I think that the films that will beneift will end up being films that are nominates in a few other categories. So last year, the likely beneficiaries of Best Pic noms would have been The Dark Knight, Wall-e, Doubt, and The Wrestler. I don’t think the increased Best Pic noms will lead to other surprising nods as Mr. Karver suggests but may play a role in determining the winner (i.e. Mickey Rourke may have won with a Best Pic nod for The Wrestler).
Agree with this very astute analysis. Oscar voters like the movies they like. It’s not like opening the field up to 10 films will suddenly broaden their tastes. Some films that got a bunch of technical nominations in past years would probably have snuck in, along with the “second tier” of admired films–look at those with screenplay, directing, acting noms. These will be the 10 nominations. Hangover doesn’t stand a chance.
District 9 should definitely be nominated for Best Picture.
Definitely! If we want to see a movie break the oscar mold, it has to be this one.
Man, this is a good one too. I should start my own personal Academy Awards and mail the whole cast and crew awards crafted from styrofoam.
i loved this movie, but it is not best picture material.
I agree.
It is awful that comedies never get nomiated for awards. It’s waaaaay harder to make a person laugh than it is to make a person cry. The Hangover was so funny and it would be a great change of pace it it was nomiated. I might even watch the boring Oscar show if it was nomiated.
How about everyone calm down,and realize the Oscars haven’t gotten it right for 20 years and the have gone out of their way to ignore what the public watches.
Um, Florence: Titanic, LOTR: Return of the King. Both won Best Pic, both released within the last 20 years, both seemed to be just a little popular, wouldn’t you say?
Good work in the Crimea, BTW.
OK, movies that don’t exactly fit the Oscar ‘mold’ will certainly make the cut this year… but i doubt that statement stretches as far as The Hangover. I mean, even Star Trek is pushing it. There’s a huge difference between a great film and a fun movie. There are movies I LOVE that totally don’t deserve any kind of Oscar love. I figure UP will sneak in, as well as maybe Inglorious Basterds, both of which would never make it another year. Perhaps even 500 Days of Summer or The Road. But Hangover? I highly doubt it. Like last year, if the 10 instead of 5 rule applied, Dark Knight and Wall-E would have slipped in… but not Iron Man or Twilight. Pushing it a bit much I think.
ugh, just the thought of twilight and the academy awards in the same sentence makes me queasy. that movie was terrible.
At least that’s one movie The Hangover would beat hands down.
Okay I LOVED the Twilight books, but Twilight and Oscar should never even be in the same sentence together (even though I just did it).
I wholeheartedly second this.
I could honestly see it happening just to maybe raise the ratings, but it would be shameful. With 10 open slots, there’s a lot of room to throw in some fan favorites (Star Trek, Hangover) without hurting the reputation of the more prestigious, or deserving, films. On the other hand I could see it not being nominated because the voters don’t care about ratings, they could have easily pulled in ratings last year by nominating The Dark Knight, but that didn’t happen. Best Supporting Nom for Zach would make sense though, the category is very thin this year, and he was the best part of the film.
I hate that the “prestigious” movies always win. I have seen several of the Oscar winners in recent years (Slumdog Millionaire, Crash) and thought they were cliche crap. I mean, if you didn’t know what the last question in Slumdog would be about within 3 minutes of the movie starting, you aren’t very smart.
I am not saying Hangover should win, but it was a fantastic movie (as was Star Trek) and I would not mind seeing a quality film win instead of something that is there just because it is “prestigious”.
i knew it! academy members are big idiots!!!
Now that the Academy has thoroughly diluted the honor of a Best Picture nom, why stop at The Hangover for Oscar campaigning? That’s right, Paul Blart, we’re looking at you!
haha!